The Gospel According
To Suriyothai

By

Jennifer Gampell

Updated Aug. 24, 2001 12:01 a.m. ET

Thai history is being rewritten for the silver screen. Previous movie versions of life at the royal court of Siam were seriously flawed. According to the lavish epic "Suriyothai" which opened last Friday in cinemas throughout Thailand, Siamese monarchs never learned ballroom dancing from impertinent British governesses who meddled in local politics. Instead they presided over picture-perfect gilded throne halls, worried about incursions from neighboring Burma and plotted against rival principalities. Meanwhile, their gorgeous queens and consorts adorned themselves in expensive gold jewelry and...